People in the news Interim pastor at Congregational Church; longtime Good Neighbors leader to retire; serviceman honored Page 2A
Dreams come true
Inside News
Jack Tragert of Lake Region (left) and the Fryeburg Academy boys’ Nordic team win state titles
Calendar. . . . . . . . . . .8A
Page 1B
Classifieds . . . . . . . . 5B Country Living . . .6A-7A Directory . . . . . . . . . . 7B Obituaries . . . . . . .8B-9B Opinions . . . . 6B, 7B 9B Police/Court . . . . . . . .5A Sports . . . . . . . . . .1B-5B Student News . . . . . 10B Towns . . . . . . . . . . . . .9A Weather . . . . . . . . . . 6B
www.bridgton.com Vol. 142, No. 9
Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. 20 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
March 3, 2011
(USPS 065-020)
SIXTY CENTS
It’s a ‘No’
Voters reject proposed development bans
By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer Bridgtonites turned out in droves Tuesday and spoke loud and clear: big box stores and fast food restaurants are welcome here. In a turnout likely without precedent for a special election held in the wintertime, a third of the town’s registered voters resoundingly defeated a citizens’ initiative by a 2-to-1 margin that would have banned formula restaurants and retail stores of 30,000 square feet or larger. Voters said no to the fast food ban by a vote of 931 no to 472 yes. Likewise, they rejected any restrictions on the size of new retail development
by an even larger vote of 963 no, 432 yes. The “vote no” mood even extended to a third question giving residents the opportunity to apply for low interest energy improvement loans and possibly energy incentives back to the owner in cash. That vote, to adopt an ordinance creating an understanding between the town and the Efficiency Maine Trust, went down by a smaller, but not insignificant margin, of 679 no and 421 yes. The results didn’t come as a surprise to 13-year Bridgton resident Chuck Renneker, who talked to many longtime Bridgton residents in the final days before the vote. “A lot of them felt very
strongly that they didn’t want people telling them how they wanted their town to be,” said Renneker. They saw the proposed amendments to the site plan review ordinance as antigrowth in a town that once was a major commercial service center — and could be again. “I think people want opportunity, they want growth. People remember when there were jobs here,” he said. Planning Board member Gordon Davis said Bridgton is a “conservative area that believes in free enterprise.” The town can manage growth along the Route 302 corridor by setting “reasonable standards” to allow national chains to co-exist with independent businesses, he
BRIDGTON IN THE SPOTLIGHT — TV crews and other media descended upon Bridgton Tuesday as voters went to the polls to decide whether to ban fast food formula restaurants and big box stores. Jeremy Goodwin was one of many Bridgton residents who were taken aside by TV crews for comment after voting in Tuesday’s referendum to ban big box and fast food stores. Goodwin voted against the bans. (Geraghty Photo) believes. A total of 1,406 voters turned out for the vote, which represents 33% of Bridgton’s 4,136 registered voters.
Scott Finlayson, whose ed by the result. group, keepingbridgtonlocal. “Not at all. What we’ve done com, led a petition drive that — we forced the status quo forced Tuesday’s referendum to stand up and account for vote, said he wasn’t disappointBANS, Page 4A
New police chief ‘looking forward’ to next chapter
By Lisa Williams Ackley Staff Writer Bridgton’s next chief of police said he decided to take the position, as it represents professional and personal opportunities for him as well as his wife and their two children. Kevin L. Schofield said he was drawn to take the job here “because Bridgton seems like a tight-knit community where people care about one another.” “I’m really looking forward to it,” said Schofield, as to how he feels about officially coming on board later this month as Bridgton’s next police chief. “I get the impression that Bridgton seems to be a tight-knit community and people care about it,
and I like that and I want to be a part of that,” he said. Schofield was the unanimous choice of the members of the Selection Committee who forwarded their recommendation to the town manager to complete the background and preemployment testing for him. Currently, Schofield is commander of the Support Services Division for the Brunswick Police Department where he manages the department’s Criminal Investigations Division, the E-9-1-1 Center and Records Division. He holds an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice, a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and an executive certificate in Human
Resource Management and has only two more classes to finish in order to complete his Master of Science degree in Organizational Leadership. Schofield has over 25 years of law enforcement experience that includes budgeting, strategic planning and operations management, according to Town Manager Mitch Berkowitz who announced Schofield’s hiring Feb. 28. Berkowitz said the hiring process was begun three months ago, after Chief of Police David Lyons announced his retirement, with the selection of a committee that included two police chiefs, two Bridgton selectmen, three citizens, the
town’s executive assistant and the town manager. Applications were received from over 20 interested individuals mostly from the Northeast, and interviews were held during January and February. The town manager said Chief of Police Schofield will start his employment with the town on March 31 and that during the interim he will be attending some department meetings as well as formally meeting with the five selectmen, town office staff and citizens. “We want to host a meet and greet opportunity for the community as soon as possible,” Berkowitz said Feb. 28. “We will also spend some time in
March and outline some of the key issues that the Department and Kevin must address going forward. He will also need time with Lieutenant (Peter) Madura and staff members as part of this process.” Selectmen Chairman Arthur D. Triglione Sr., speaking on behalf of the entire board stated, “This will be an exciting opportunity for Kevin and our community, and we look forward to having him work with the rest of the Select Board. We believe the hiring process was very thorough and professional and express our appreciation to the committee members.” “Career-wise, this is something I’ve wanted to do — to be
PCBs spell big money
Funds to fight pollution
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO – The Tenney Hill site — which was polluted by waste oil in the 1980s — could yield a goldmine of environmental opportunities. According to officials from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Town of Casco could likely receive $500,000 that it could grant to small businesses or residents for projects that protect the watershed from pollutants. David Wright, the director of the DEP’s Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management, told the Casco Board of Selectmen on Tuesday that money collected from businesses disposing of waste oil will pay a fee into a kitty. That fund will be used to help with clean-up at an Ellsworth site. But, in the case of Casco, where the ground water is irreparably damaged, the money will boost qualifying projects. “What we are talking about is a cash settlement. At the Legislature’s end, they need to approve it, start collecting the money, and then we hand it out,” Wright said. “What we’ve come up with POLLUTION, Page 10A
New Bridgton Chief of Police Kevin L. Schofield a chief of police,” said Schofield via phone, Monday afternoon. “I saw this opportunity, and I NEW CHIEF, Page 10A
MISERY LOVES COMPANY? — Holding hands, these jumpers hit the icy waters of Sebago Lake over the weekend, taking part in the polar dip as part of the Sebago Lake Rotary Derbyfest weekend. (Photo courtesy of Brad Bradstreet)
Fryeburg to decide Red Iron’s fate By Lisa Williams Ackley Staff Writer FRYEBURG — The townspeople of Fryeburg will get to have their say, as to the fate of the Red Iron Bridge, when and if the time comes. Town officials, as well as the organizers of a grassroots campaign to save the Red Iron Bridge, were visibly thrilled, when they received word late last week that the Maine Department of Transportation is willing to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Town of Fryeburg. Maine Department of
Transportation engineers had previously identified the Red Iron Bridge as unsafe and in need of being removed and not replaced. The memorandum of agreement was worked out Feb. 24, during a meeting facilitated by State Senator Dave Hastings (R-Fryeburg) and attended by Hastings, MDOT’s Deputy Commissioner Bruce A. Van Note, Board of Selectmen Chairman Tom Klinepeter, Town Manager Sharon Jackson and Chip Getchell of MDOT. The agreement was announced at the selectmen’s meeting that
evening. What does the official memorandum of agreement with MDOT mean to the town? “I’m pleased with the agreement we’ve come to with MDOT,” Town Manager Sharon Jackson said Feb. 28. “I think this way we can keep the bridge open — they’ll (MDOT) inspect it every year — and when and if the time comes to take it out, they’ll let us know, and they’ll get an estimate of the cost.” “I’m glad they’re going to allow the town to make the decision whether we want
to keep the bridge or not,” Chairman Klinepeter said. “You can’t ask for any better outcome than that — to leave it up to townspeople.” Both Klinepeter and Sen. Hastings said that the memoRED IRON, Page 9A
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Materials used to build Lake Region High School in the late 1960s continue to haunt SAD 61. SAD 61 has spent approximately $630,000 over the last 10 years to remove and dispose of asbestos, according to Finance Coordinator Sherrie (Weese) Small. A “small amount” of asbestos remains, and will be removed. Now, SAD 61 faces another expensive project. As part of the $13.8 million high school renovation work, PDT Architects tested caulking around exterior windows and doors, as well as the soil below. Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) — a hazardous material — were detected. To comply with federal Environmental Protection Agency guidelines, PDT Architects estimates it will cost the school district about PCBs, Page 5A
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